Wireless Dead Zones: What They Are and How to Fix Them

Almost everyone today relies on Wi-Fi. We need it to easily access the Internet so we can do things like listen to music, do work, and check our emails and social media accounts.

However, sometimes we enter wireless dead zones. These wireless dead zones cause the Wi-Fi to drop its signal leaving you without an Internet connection. There’s nothing more annoying than needing to use the Internet but having no signal for it.

It’s important to know why this happens and how to prevent it. This article will help to explain what a wireless dead zone is and how you can prevent it from happening and fix it if it does occur.

What Are Wireless Dead Zones?

A wireless dead zone is exactly what its name implies. It’s a place where very little or no Wi-Fi works, so it’s a “dead zone”. A wireless dead zone prevents the Wi-Fi signal from working properly where you currently are. You’ll receive no Wi-Fi signal in a dead zone, and even if you do, it will be very weak.

You’ve probably already experienced a wireless dead zone before. For example, if you were using a certain device in part of your home but found that it barely worked in another area, that new area was a wireless dead zone. These can be very irritating as wireless dead zones can prevent you from having Wi-Fi access even if you have a router that’s nearby.

What Causes Wireless Dead Zones to Occur?

There are quite a few things that can cause wireless dead zones. Below are a few of these common causes that could be the reason why you might have one of these dead zones.

1. Large and Metal Objects

Large and metal objects can often block any Wi-Fi signal from traveling to your device. Places like offices and your living space usually contain large and thick objects like bookshelves and other things that can hinder the Wi-Fi signal. This is especially true with metal objects like tables, cabinets, and even decorative elements. Metal is difficult for the Wi-Fi signal to travel through because it is a very thick and solid material. However, this doesn’t just apply to visible metal objects. If there’s metal in the walls, such as in the pipes and framework, that can also make it very difficult for the Wi-Fi to travel to your device and can end up blocking its signal. (Check our list of best routers under 50 bucks)

2. Other Types of Technology and Appliances

Sometimes other types of technology and appliances, such as microwaves and wireless speakers, can prevent the Wi-Fi signal from traveling to your device. Be sure to check where these things are located as they can lead to a blockage of your Wi-Fi signal.

3. Different Wi-Fi Channels

Believe it or not, other Wi-Fi channels can slow and block your Wi-Fi signal from working properly. Some might think this could help improve the signal because there are many channels, but it doesn’t. If there are many Wi-Fi channels traveling near each other they can end up running into one another and block each other’s signals. This could even be your neighbor’s Wi-Fi channel blocking your Wi-Fi signal. Overall, many different Wi-Fi channels can cause a very low Wi-Fi signal for your device.

How to Know if You Have a Wireless Dead Zone

There are a few ways that you can check to see if you have a wireless dead zone.

Walking Around with Your Device

This is one of simplest ways to help see if you have a wireless dead zone. You can just walk around with your device and check the Wi-Fi signal on it as you do so. If you walk to one area and see the bars starting to decrease, then you’re probably headed toward a wireless dead zone. Keep walking around until you find an area that keeps your Wi-Fi signal strong and you see that all the signal bars are available.

Use Special Software

If you prefer to look more intricately at the Wi-Fi signal there are a few types of software that are available for you to use. You can download this software on your device and it will give you a detailed check of the Wi-Fi signal.

Most of this software will have a format like a barometer. The arrow on it will move to either a strong Wi-Fi number or you’ll see it decrease if you’re headed toward a wireless dead zone. If you find that your device often has a loss of Wi-Fi, this might be a good way to give it a more in-depth check.

How to Fix Any Possible Wireless Dead Zones

If you find that you have a wireless dead zone, don’t worry. There are a few things that you can do to help fix wireless dead zones

Use a Type of Wired Connection or Wi-Fi Extender

Although wireless Wi-Fi signals are nice to have, you might find that a wired connection is necessary. This is especially helpful if you find that your Wi-Fi signal often declines. If you have D-Link AC1200 Wi-Fi Router or Asus RT-AC88U Dual-Band, you can use Ethernet cables to connect to the Wi-Fi to help its signal.

Wi-Fi extenders are also helpful to strengthen the Wi-Fi signal. They usually work like hot spots and help to move the Wi-Fi signal to different devices. It can strengthen the Wi-Fi signal you already have and then send that signal out to any other devices that use your Wi-Fi.

Check the Antenna and Position of the Router

Sometimes wireless dead zones are caused by a slight shift in the router. This could be caused from an unnoticed bump against the router which moved it or even the antenna slightly falling. Before going and buying an entirely new router, be sure to check these things. Try to reposition the router to see if you can get a strong Wi-Fi signal again. Also be sure to check the antenna of the router. You want to make sure that it’s positioned perfectly straight in the air. If it’s tilted horizontally even a little bit your Wi-Fi signal can be affected negatively Here's what you should consider when choosing your next wireless router.

Move Large and Metal Objects Around

As mentioned above, large and metal objects are often a major cause of wireless dead zones. While it’s unlikely that you’ll remove the metal located in the walls just for a strong Wi-Fi signal, you can move the visible furniture and any other large and metal objects around. Be sure to move these away from the router and continuously check the Wi-Fi signal as you move these objects around. This way you see whether the new position is helpful for the Wi-Fi signal or not.

Conclusion

We depend on Wi-Fi for almost everything. In today’s world, you often need to constantly access the Internet for things. However, to do so, there needs to be a strong Wi-Fi signal. A weak Wi-Fi signal can cause you to quickly lose your Internet connection leaving you with little or no Internet accessibility. If your Wi-Fi often disappears, check to see if you’re in a wireless dead zone. If you find that you are, use the ideas in this article to help fix that so you can get a stronger and more reliable Wi-Fi signal.